Leaf-turning mechanism.



R. R. WALKER.

LEAF TURNING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1915.

1,164,242. Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ATTORNEYS R. R. WALKER.

LEAF TURNING MECHANlSM.

APPLICATlON FILED MAYII. 1915.

1,164,242. Patented De0.14,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. P 5

INVENTOH ATTOI N EV- R. R. WALKER.

LEAF TURNING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION men MAYH. 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

I INVENTOH/ UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

RAYMOND R. WALKER, OF FOLLANSBEE, WEST VIRGINIA.

LEAF-TURNING MECHANISM.

Application filed May 11, 1915.

h at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RAYMOND R. WALKER, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Fallansbee, county of Brooke, and State of est Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leaf-Turning Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to leafturning devices, and specifically to a device for turning the leaves of sheet music.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and positive operating device whereby the leaves of sheet music and the like may be instantly turned either in a forward or rearward direction.

A. further object is to provide a device of the character mentioned which requires only that a key be depressed to effect the instant turning of a leaf or sheet, such key depression being accomplished in an interval of practically negligible duration.

A still further object is to provide a music leaf-turning mechanism which shall also serve as a conveniently portable case in which sheet music may be carried.

Vfith those and other objects in view, the invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention, showing the cover open and one of the cover portions broken away; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the cover re moved; Fig. 3 is an end elevation; Fig. l is a. plan view of the invention with the casing cover removed; Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are transverse sections taken, respectively, on the lines 5 5, 66, 77 and 88. Fig. el: F 9 is a partial longitudinal section on the line 9 9, Fig. 4; Fig. 10 is a plan view showing a modified form of means for returning the shaft to normal position; Fig. 11 is a plan view showing a modified form of actuatingkey-lever; Fig. 12 is a transverse section on line 1212, Fig. 10. showing modified arrangement of cam; Fig. 13 is a similar section on line 13'13, Fig. 11; Fig. 14 a longitudinal section on line 1=%14(, Fig. 10; and Fig. 15 is a similar section on the line 15-15, Fig. 13.

Referr'ng to said drawin s, in which like designating characters distinguish like Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Serial No. 27,443.

parts throughout the several views1 indi-,

cates a casing which is of substantially semicylindrical form. the lower end of which is preferably provided with a groove 2 de' signed to receive theusual roll or rib provided on the music-shelf of a piano, and is thus adapted to firmly seat in position on the piano. Provided at suitable points intermediate the ends of said casing are two or more fixed transverse partitions 3 in which is journaled a centrally disposed longitudinal shaft 4. Loosely mounted on said shaft at each of two or more points in its length, so as to permit of independent rotation of said shaft, are a plurality of arms 5 which support at their outer ends a plurality of longitudinally disposed rods 6. The upper end of each of said rods is bent outward at a right angle to form an arm 6. Fixed upon each rod at suitable points is a plurality of clips 7 having outwardly directed parallel resilient portions between which the edges of a sheet of music may be introduced and held. A similar clip 7' is also carried by each arm 6. Thus, as is obvious, provision is made for mounting a plurality of music sheets, one for each rod 6, each sheet being gripped'on its upper and inner edges whereby it is supported in such manner thatit will be carried or turned over when rotary movement is imparted to its supporting rod.

'Rotatable upon the shaft 4 at a suitable point, preferably near the middle thereof, is a circular disk 8 whichhas pivotally mounted thereof at a point adjacent to its periphery one end of a crescent-shaped cam 9 which is normally held thrust outward in a position wherein its outer curved edge projects laterally 011 the left-hand side of said shaft and beyond the periphery of said disk. as shown in Fig. 6, a suitable light spring 10 associated with said parts serving to yieldingly maintain said cam in said position. Said disk is rotatable between two collars 11 and 12 which are fixed upon the shaft 4. Having one end fixed to a pin 13 carried by the disk 8 is a shaftencircling spiral spring 14 having its opposite end attached to a fixed collar 15 carried by said shaft, said spring serving to normally maintain said disk in a position wherein a small notch 16 provided in the outer edge of the cam 9 lies beneath the lowermost, or inner most, of the rods 6 when the latter occupy the limit of their left-hand movement.

Said notch 16 is provided at a point substantially midway between the ends of said cam, and directly above said notch said cam projects beyond the periphery of said disk to a greater distance than at any other point, and thence its outer edge gradually inclines inward toward said periphery to the free end of the cam, as is clearly shown in Fig. 6. Due to the construction just described, as the disk, actuated by its spring 1 returns to its normal position after being actuated to rotate forward, its outer edge engages those of the rods 6 which occupy the left hand position and said cam is thereby pressed inward against the tension of its spring 10, so that it rides to its normal position without hindrance.

A pin 17 is carried by the disk 8 on the side adjacent to the fixed collar 12. When said disk occupies normal position, said pin 1? lies in engagement with a pin or stud 18 carried by said collar 12. Thus, as is apparent, when the shaft 4 is rotated forward, or to the right, the disk 8 is caused to rotate therewith. As the cam 9 carried by said disk rotates forward, the outer edge of said cam rides against the rods 6 located on the adjacent, or left hand, side until the notch 16 reaches a point opposite the uppermost of said rods, whereupon, actuated by the spring 10, said cam springs outward causing said uppermost rod to be engaged by said notch. Further rotation of said disk then carries therewith the engaged rod,

swinging the latter over to the right hand side. When said rod has been carried past the center of its throw, or to a point whence it may gravitate to the limit of its movement, the weight thereof will actuate the free end of said cam to move inward against the tension of the very light spring 10 and to release said rod. A second disk 19 similar to the disk 8 is rotatable on the shaft 4, the same being located between two collars 20 and 21 fixed on said shaft. Pivotally mounted on said disk 19 so as to occupy a position at the right hand side of the latter is a cam 22 precisely corresponding with cam 9 and designed to carry the rods 6 over from right to left upon actuation of the shaft 4 in that direction. A spring 49 similar to spring 14 is associated with the disk 19 for a purpose similar to that of said spring 14.

The actuating means for the shaft 4- comprises, in the preferred embodiment, a small gear or pinion 23 fixed on the lower end of said shaft. Pivotallv mounted upon suitable brackets 24 fixed on a plate 25 carried by the casing 1 are two bell-crank levers 26, each having one arm thereof extended from the pivotal point through a slot 27 provided therefor in an upright transversely disposed plate 28 and having an upright rack-bar 29 fixed on the end. thereof. Said rack-bars are oppositely disposed and each is adapted to be raised and lowered into engagement with said gear 23 for effecting rotation of said shaft. Suitable springs 30 serve to normally maintain said levers 26 in a position wherein said rack-bars are wholly removed from engagement with said pinion, as shown in Fig. 8. Thus neither rack-bar will interfere with actuation of the shaft when the other thereof is moved into rotating relation to the gear. Pivotally mounted on the outward extending arm of each bell-crank lever 26 is one end of a key lever 31 which carries a push-button or head 32 on its opposite end. Said key lever normally rests or seats upon a pin or stud 33 carried by said outwardly extending arm of the bell-crank lever and located slightly in the rear of and inward with respect to the pivot, so that when said key-lever is pressed inward, said bell-crank lever will be swung on its pivot elevating the rack-bar thereof for rotating shaft t through the gear 23. The slots 27 are made of such length that the elevating movement of said 'ack-bar will be stopped when the desired limit of rotation of the shaft lhas been reached. The springs 30 serve to return the bell-crank levers to their normal positions and, consequently, to return the shaft i to its normal position. Said shaft l is prevented from rotation when the rack-bars are at rest out of engagement therewith by a disk 3-1- and an interengaging lever arm 35, the former being fixed on said shaft at a suitable point and having a notch 36 at one side thereof. Said lever arm 35 has one end fixed ata. suitable point, as to one of the partitions 3, as shown in Fig. 5 and has its opposite end normally held in engagement with said notch 36 by means of a suitable light spring 37. An anti-friction roller 38 provided on the notch-engaging end of said lever arm is provided for reducing the frictional resistance to rotation of the shaft when the latter is actuated.

Attached to the rear curved surface of the casing 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is a cloth or leather fabric 39 which is extended at opposite sides and preferably has fixed on its extended portions cardboard or other backing 40 for constituting a back or cover of book-back character adapted to be opened outward as shown in said figures and to be closed to form a portable musicsheet inclosing case, as occasion may require. The means of attachment of the fabric 39 to the casing mav be of any appropriate character, as an adhesive substance or rivets.

The mechanism of the interior of the easing 1 is covered by removable face sections L1, 42 and 1-3 which are so disposed as not to interfere with rotation of the clips 7 in which the music sheets are carried. The face section 43 has slots 4% therein through which the outwardly extending portions of the bell-crank levers protrude.

It will be noted that but one of the disks 8 and 19 is rotated at a time, each being prevented from rotating rearward from its normal position, the means employed for the purpose consisting of pins 45 and 46 carried by said disks 8 and 19 respectively, and arms 47 and 48 fixed at appropriate points on the casing 1 with which said pins normally engage.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 10, 12 and 14, springs 14 and 49 are employed, each having one end directed inward and attached, as at 50 and 51 to the casing. Said springs serve the same purpose as the springs 14 and 49 and, additionally, to return the shaft to its normal position after actuation, being designed for use when the modified form of actuating lever 52 shown in Figs. 11, 13 and 15 are employed. In said last named figures a single actuating lever is substituted for the two key levers 31, the same being designed to operate laterally, movement in one direction being adapted to rotate the shaft 4 from left to right and movement in the opposite direction being adapted to rotate said shaft in the reverse direction. Said lever is pivoted at 53 intermediate its ends and carries on its upper end a horizontal rackbar 29 which is permanently in engagement with the gear 23.

In Fig. 12 the disk 8 is shown as having its cam 9 occupying a substantially reversed position, the cam being pivoted adjacent to the uppermost portion of the disk. The strength of the spring 10 is such with respect to the weight of the cam 9' that, when occupying the normal position shown in said figure, said cam will not, on actuation of the shaft from left to right, be thrust outward into lifting engagement with the rods 6 located in the left-hand position. Thus on the forward movement of said shaft from left to right no rod is shifted. However, on the return movement of the shaft under the actuation of the spring 14 said cam will engage the uppermcst of the rods 6 located in the right-hand position and will carry said rcd from right to left. Thus, it will be seen that, with this modified construction, actuation of the rods 6 is accomplished on the return rotation of the shaft.

What is claimed is:

1. A leaf turner comprising a casing, spaced partitions fixed therein, a shaft journaled in the partitions, a gear on the one end portion of the shaft, operating means includ ng a rack member for intermeshing with the gear, a plurality of arms rotatable on the shaft, rods carried by the arms, each rod being adapted to turn a. leaf, spaced disks rotatable on the shaft, an operative connection between each disk and the shaft,

spring means normally maintaining the operative connections, crescent shaped cams pivoted on the disks and provided with notches, the cam on one disk being arranged in reverse relation to the cam on the other disk, springs for projecting the cams to have their notches engage with the rods for swinging the latter about the shaft, a notched disk fixed on the shaft, an arm yieldably mounted on one of the partitions for engaging in the notch of the disk for retaining the shaft from unauthorized movement, and means to prevent backward movement of the loose disks from normal position.

2. A leaf turner comprising a casing, spaced partitions fixed therein, a shaft journaled in the partitions, a gear on the one end portion of the shaft, operating means includinga rack member for intermeshing with the gear, a plurality of arms rotatable on the shaft, rods carried by the arms, each rod being adapted to turn a leaf, spaced disks rotatable on the shaft, an operative connection between each disk and the shaft, spring means normally maintaining the operative connections, a cam pivoted on each disk for swinging beyond the periphery of the latter and provided with a notch for engaging with a rod, the cams being disposed in reverse relation to each other, springs for projecting the cams to have their notches engage with the rods for swinging the latter about the shaft, a notched disk fixed on the shaft, an arm yieldably mounted on one of the partitions for engaging in the notch of the disk for retaining the shaft from unauthorized movement, and means to prevent backward movement of the loose disks from normal position.

3. A leaf turner comprising a casing, a shaft journaled therein, a plurality of leaf turning rods rotatable on the shaft, means for rotating the shaft, a disk rotatable on the shaft, a cam yieldably carried by the disk and provided with a face eccentric to the shaft, the face of the cam being formed with a notch adapted to receive a leaf turning rod for establishing an operative engagement between the latter and the disk, said cam being so formed that its notch is prevented from operatively engaging other than the topmost of said rods, a stud on the shaft. a pin on the disk adapted to be engaged by the stud to provide a driving connection between the shaft and disk, and spring means for normally holding the stud and pin engaged.

4. A leaf turning mechanism comprising a casing, a shaft journaled therein, a plurality of leaf turning rods rotatable on said shaft. means for rotating said shaft, a pair of disks rotatable on said shaft. cams carried by the disks, the cams of said disks being reversely disposed, means holding each of said cams in a position wherein a face thereof is eccentric with respect to the shaft, said face having a rod-receiving notch therein and being formed to prevent engagement between said notch and all but the topmost of said rods when said disk is rotated forward, a stud on the shaft, a pin on each disk adapted to be engaged by the stud to provide adriving connection between the shaft and said disk, means for normally holding the stud and pin engaged, and means for imparting reverse movement to the shaft.

A leaf turning mechanism comprising a casing, a shaft journaled in said casing, means for rotating the shaft, leaf carrying ease members swingingly supported on the shaft, a disk rotatable on the shaft, a connection between the shaft and the disk, and a cam yieldingly mounted on said disk and adapted to engage the leaf carrying members for swinging the latter, said cam being so formed that when actuated to rotate with said disk it will operatively engage only the topmost leaf carrying member.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of a subscribing witness.

RAYMOND R. WALKER.

' Witness:

H. E. DUNLAP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID. 0. 

